Trauma Support SA

South Africans have come to recognize and accept the challenges, cost and aftermath of violent crime. Usually this cost is measured in economic terms and the fear factor, leading to emigration of skilled professionals and a sense of frustration and perceived non- caring attitude of government officials. However, part of the problem lies not only in the prevention of crime and visibility of police officials but in the support provided to victims of trauma. Trauma Support SA was established in 2012 to meet a growing need of trained volunteers providing trauma support services across South Africa, and to date has trained over 300 volunteers in the field of Victim Empowerment. Trauma Support SA, as a national organization works towards improving the link between psycho social trauma support services and victims of trauma by providing access to support, advice and referral through a national network of trauma service providers, with the following vision and objectives: • Research in the field of traumatic stress being readily made available to mental health professionals/ trauma support volunteers and workers in the victim empowerment field. • Dissemination of knowledge to front-line lay workers • Training lay-counselors, mental health professionals and trainers. • Education and awareness campaigns in the general population • Advocacy to develop policy at all levels. This is based on needs identified in the trauma support field: Effective mobilization of trauma support volunteers • Effective supervision and mentoring • Effective training and management of trauma support volunteers • Capacity building & strategic development